Love: Art of Emotion 1400-1800

Love: Art of Emotion 1400–1800 draws upon the NGV’s diverse permanent collection to explore the theme of love in art, and the changing representations of this complex emotion throughout the early modern period in Europe.

While popular conceptions of love tend frequently to focus upon romantic love, Love: Art of Emotion explores love’s varied manifestations across the realms of human experience, including familial relationships, religious devotion, friendship, altruism, patriotism, narcissism, materialism and nostalgia. The exhibition presents depictions of love’s many variations in painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, as well as non-representational and functional objects such as costume, furniture and religious artefacts.